MAY CONTAIN NUTS
HOME
Home

Search Shorpy

SEARCH TIP: Click the tags above a photo to find more of same:
Mandatory field.

Search results -- 30 results per page

Beach Burro: 1905
The Jersey shore circa 1905. "At Atlantic City." Please watch where you walk. Dry plate glass negative, Detroit ... The Donkeys What was their purpose/allure on Atlantic Beach? Almost like an adult version of a pony ride. In that era of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2012 - 3:08pm -

The Jersey shore circa 1905. "At Atlantic City." Please watch where you walk. Dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Her ExpressionShe appears to be in on a joke I don't understand. I really think she's a cutie though. The girl ain't bad either! Reminds me... of a girlfriend I used to have. Loved the beach but never went in the water. Spent the whole day just sitting on her ass. Even on Vacation"Though they often performed together on stage in Tijuana, few dared guess they were close personal friends and frequently traveled in each other's company." Jackass 1.0Frankie and Annette of 105 years ago? Some things never change! Thank goodness, or where would WE be? I wonder if they went in for some nice refreshing Guzo after their romp? The Shorpy Challenge:Look at this photo and don't crack a smile. Beach Blanket Burro?An early, not-so-successful, Frankie and Annette movie formula. The DonkeysWhat was their purpose/allure on Atlantic Beach? Almost like an adult version of a pony ride. In that era of horses, I don't get it. Beach moviesI was thinking more Mack Sennett 1915. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Horses, Swimming)
Endless Summer: 1905
The Jersey Shore circa 1905. "On the beach, Atlantic City." Who has the Frisbee? 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/24/2011 - 1:24pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1905. "On the beach, Atlantic City." Who has the Frisbee? 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Where the Frisbee isSeveral hundred miles away is where. At this point, the Frisbie Pie Company's plates hadn't made it outside the Bridgeport, Conn. area. Whew!If the weather that day was as hot as it is now here in Pa. they had better hurry up and eat the ice cream before it melts! Did they refrigerate with dry ice back then? Several unanswered questionsHow did the third girl from the left get so much sand in her hair? Who is the fourth girl throwing sand at and why? Who cleans up after the horse (whose tail indicates he may be ready to drop one)? Why does the chap in the background have a big circled "A" across his vest? Pegasus Love these old photos! I was just at the beach at AC recently, in some ways it hasn't changed. I wonder if that's the high-diving horse on a break from the Steel Pier? Your Credit Is Good HereThe sign on the building on the left is a reminder that the enticement of easy credit has been around a long time. Horse on the BeachNo good can come of this. Gimme an A!There in the background on the right and coming closer, is that Hester Prynne from "The Scarlet Letter"? Re: Whew!Was wondering the same thing about the dry ice. Were they using it back then for refrigeration? I looked up some history on it. Dry ice was discovered in 1834, but was not commercially available until 1924 or 1925. I remember its widespread use in the early 50's. It was always a treat at the end of a picnic to see it being dumped into water and seeing the resulting explosion of bubbling and vapor release. Bathing Suit RentalsIt looks the most popular rental shop was Old Navy. Ice Cream DreamWhat is the profit margin for selling something like ice cream for 1 cent? Ice Cream and --The sign on the Ice Cream cart is partially obscured -- what ends in "ocks"? The DaysThose were the days when it was worth it to stoop and pick up a penny. Bubble, bubbleI, too, can remember at the end of the annual church picnic when the leftover dry ice was tossed into the river. Along from the trampoline and collecting tadpoles, it was the highlight of the day. Beach Blanket BingoMinus the blankets. And the bingo. Ice cream ...ocksPossibly "blocks." I remember small cubes of ice cream, about the size of a child's alphabet block, wrapped in waxed paper being an item one saw for sale during my childhood years back in the 50s. Could be another convenient way, along with sandwiches and cones, to sell small quantities in a recreational venue such as this. Then there's Neapolitan ice cream, often served in block form to maintain or display its multi-colored layers. Pretty racyBathing suits that showed arms AND legs? The horror! The Dawn of UltimateHey, this may be the earliest photo of an Ultimate Frisbee beach tournament. Off to Asbury Park for a round of Disc Golf after the tourney, maybe? Hands and sandThis is like a panorama spliced together from three different pictures: the kids sitting in the foreground, the line with the ice-cream cart in between, and the beach perspective in the background. The last two layers don't do much for me, but the foreground is amazingly tactile, expressive, and dynamic. I'm drawn most of all to the steady hands and quiet gaze of the rightmost girl in the foreground. There's an interesting contrast between her steadiness and the blurred gestures and shifting weight of the girls beside her. There's also a very pleasing symmetry between the way she rests her hand on her ankle and the more wound-up gesture of the leftmost boy scooping up a fistful of sand. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
Grand Hotel: 1908
Atlantic City, New Jersey, circa 1908. "Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel." All this needs is ... can be a HUGE motive This 1753-room casino (Bally's Atlantic City) replaced it. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2012 - 4:07pm -

Atlantic City, New Jersey, circa 1908. "Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel." All this needs is some icing and a bride and groom on top. View full size. Fabulous!Up till then, the largest reinforced concrete building in the world. Razed in 1979. What the heckLos Angeles Chamber of Commerce on the Boardwalk ? No, No, Nanette!This fabulous hotel had famously fabulous afternoon teas. Irving Caesar wrote the words to the song "Tea for Two" here in the hotel's lobby in 1925. A King's RansomI'll bet that penthouse suite cost $10 or $12 a night! So hard to imagineThese things ever existed. Thank God these photos do. Inn-cineratorI hope those twin towers at the front are smokestacks -- to have them belching oodles of black smoke would complete the sinister look! Whoa Nouveau!That's grand, all right. If I ever get my time machine working, I'm using Shorpy as the GPS. Profit can be a HUGE motiveThis 1753-room casino (Bally's Atlantic City) replaced it. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC)
A Day at the Beach: 1908
Circa 1908. "Atlantic City, N.J. -- the bathing hour." Nattily attired in a variety of suits. 8x10 ... like a mass of people having a wonderful day. The current Atlantic City beach? I think I'll skip it. Entrepreneurial spirit If ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/26/2017 - 4:59pm -

Circa 1908. "Atlantic City, N.J. -- the bathing hour." Nattily attired in a variety of suits. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Eyewear for the beachThree women around Robin Williams who is standing behind the guy with the crossed arms and moustache. They look like sisters and are wearing very similar eyeglass frames. Robin Williams.Standing behind guy in front with crossed arms and moustache. Love beach photos!Especially interesting to see the ones who came to watch the swimmers. The people were so healthy and happy. The women beautiful in their upswept hair and fancy dresses & the men always in dapper clothing. You seldom see an overweight person. Imagine if they could see our American population today! AruuugaCheck out the curves on the dame in the front under the umbrella. Now I see why the photographer decided to take a picture here. Elbows. Knees. Ankles.I shudder at such a shocking, disgusting display! Please don't let this filth be shown to our children -- wait, I mean my great-grandparents. Where did everybody go?What a wonderful shot full of life, energy, and fun. This is the beach I would like to sit at amongst what looks like a mass of people having a wonderful day. The current Atlantic City beach? I think I'll skip it. Entrepreneurial spiritIf only I could go back in time and "invent" the beach blanket. Cha-ching! Who's That GirlThe Parasol Lady must have a 15 inch waist! On the beachFunny how there is not one thing on the beach other than people! No towels, bags, balls, food, drink, etc. The beach scene is devoid of everything except bathers and well dressed observers. VignettesI like the pockets of entertainment in these sweeping photographs. The two boys that seem to be experimenting with a cigarette near the tent entrance. Here name was MadeleineHer name was Madeleine but everyone called her Maggie. A popular figure at the Steel Pier Pavilion where she worked as a dance instructor, she considered herself quite the “modern woman.” Hired for her beauty and admired for her grace, she possessed a refined yet playful sense of humor and a maturity beyond her years of 21. Attired in her favorite lavender morning suit and accompanied by her young friend, Emily, who was still dressed in the skirt and blouse she wore as a concession girl on the pier, both young ladies were adorned with their new-for-this-season lingerie hats and were enjoying their afternoon off. Strolling hand-in-hand down the Boardwalk, Maggie spots a couple of familiar faces among the crowd on the beach below. Could it be the artist who sketches portraits for 10 cents and his friend the musician whom they see each morning outside the train station? Didn’t he once say his name was Jack and that he hailed from some place named Chippewa or something? FunFotoFictionFantasy (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
Pass the Sunblock: 1905
On the Atlantic circa 1905. "An afternoon on the beach." Careful not to burn those ... or a quarter what ever for the use of the suit? [The Atlantic City pictures show several examples of the "bathing pavilions" that rented ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 2:09pm -

On the Atlantic circa 1905. "An afternoon on the beach." Careful not to burn those elbows! 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Sink or SwimThose getups can't actually be for swimming. I guess their main purpose is tan mitigation. The color selection brings Henry Ford to mind. DrippyThese Gibson Girls give new meaning to the phrase "wet bathing suit contest." Aloe Sailor!There must have been plenty of farmers tans in those days. PulchritudeBe still my beating heart. Familiar FacesIn the movie, the girl on the left will be played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and the one on the right by Anne Ramsay. Looks a lot like ...Sandy Dunkin'. The RopesI live in the desert, so I don't know from oceans, so can someone please tell me if they still rope off sections of beach like that? Was that a safety feature? Modes of the dayMy wife, a collector of bathing and swimming apparel (1860-1960), advises me that these are suits are sturdy cotton of blue or black, not wool. She also suggests that if they were light colored and wet they would become "see through." [Below, an amusing snippet from the New York Times of January 26, 1908. - Dave] The fashionable bathing costume of the present day is of peau de soie or some soft fairly heavy silk made on a princesse model, with just a suggestion of an empire line at the back of the belt. A boned and fitted girdle of embroidered silk is covered with Irish, Cluny or applique lace -- preferably the former, which washes so satisfactorily. Long sleeves are considered absolutely necessary in a bathing suit -- a fairly wide shoulder puff with a deep-lined lace cuff meeting the puff just below the elbow makes a good pattern. The skirt should come just below the knees and be plaited so as to flare out well all around. The bodice is finished with a shoulder cape of Irish lace or with a small square of round lace yoke. Bands of embroidery worked on the silk or plain stitched bands over the seams are to be seen. The waist, in fact, is on a rather severe model, but it is not unlike a plain silk shirt waist. It is the hat, however, which makes the present style of bathing suit a really becoming costume instead of a dress which there is little use in trying to make attractive ... Fairly heavy silk stockings are smartest with a bathing suit, but this is a piece of extravagance out of keeping with the average pocketbook, and fine lisle thread hose are quite permissible. Black, as giving the best wear, is the most popular color for a bathing dress, but deep blues and greens, bright reds, and even golden browns and rich dark purples, all look well when they are becoming. Soft kid slippers tied on with satin ribbon are worn by many who find walking in stockings without heels disagreeable. Bathing gloves have not as yet been introduced. Cookie Cutter GirlsGeez, I thought all the girls in the recent Miss Universe contest looked alike but apparently this has always been the trend. These five could be identical quintuplets. Rentals?Next question: Would these suits have been rented? Would there be a great big Victorian Bath House standing there if we turned our heads, and would there be rows and rows of little lockers for changing? And would these young ladies have paid a nickel or a quarter what ever for the use of the suit? [The Atlantic City pictures show several examples of the "bathing pavilions" that rented swimsuits and provided changing facilities. Balmer's Baths, for instance. - Dave] Edwardian BathingThe ropes were used for "sea bathing" as something to hang onto in the surf. This was particularly needed by the women in their "bathing costumes." While a surprising number of women did learn to at least paddle around in lakes, quiet rivers and pools, most I suspect were more than content to splash around in shallower water as serious swimming would be challenging in bathing dresses designed for modesty first and foremost. I read with interest the fashion note about heavy silk swim dresses. While I have no doubt they were available for the more fashion conscious, well-do-to women, based on surviving examples, sturdy cotton seems to have been the most common fabric used for these dresses until the increasing popularity by the 1920s among young women of the more practical (and revealing) wool knit bathing suits. Some daring young women were wearing mid thigh versions of these form-fitting suits as early as "aughts," but they were rare because of their shock value at the time. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
Transit Hub: 1906
Circa 1906. "Atlantic City, N.J., hotel busses at P.R. depot." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, ... This vantage point is looking east (the ocean in Atlantic City is to the south of the island). A Shorpy view of the same ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2012 - 4:16pm -

Circa 1906. "Atlantic City, N.J., hotel busses at P.R. depot." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. A Domed AffinityThe wonderful domed structure is the Guarantee Trust Building. This vantage point is looking east (the ocean in Atlantic City is to the south of the island). A Shorpy view of the same building, from the east looking west. I have an affinity to the building as it is where I began work as an attorney in Atlantic City way back in 1983. My window was the second to the left of the plume of steam on the first visible floor. The building still stands sans the clock, the dome or the plume of steam. HorsepowerHorse, horse, horse, horse, horse, horse, horse, horse, and wait a minute. That's one of those newfangled horseless carriages. Wonder which hotel sent THAT. Such aristocratic horses!Most of them must be hitched to buses from the finest hotels. They are obviously appalled by the knock-kneed nag at right pulling a bus not permitted in the high-class lineup, and that appears to be the only one gauche enough to have "soiled" the premises. Now We KnowWhere the term "station wagon" came from. Where's your horse?Who is going to ride in that bus with no horse? It's one of those new auto-mobiles. They won't last. Layoffs are comingNote the horseless carriage! Yesterday's hotel buses and todays...It makes perfect sense, but I had no idea that hotel buses were a concept that went back this far. When I think of today's transportation hubs (airports mainly) and the hotel buses and vans, I remember the many late nights when I have waited endlessly on windswept traffic islands for the next "express bus" to appear from my chosen hotel. It appears in years past, hotel buses actually waited for clients and not the reverse. How quaint! (The Gallery, Atlantic City, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC, Horses)
Sand in Your Socks: 1905
The Jersey Shore circa 1905. "Atlantic City, on the beach." Surf, sand and Steeplechase Pier in the distance. Detroit ... At Last We have young men and women socializing in the Atlantic City's sand and surf. The usual photographs are of the old folks being ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/24/2011 - 1:24pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1905. "Atlantic City, on the beach." Surf, sand and Steeplechase Pier in the distance. Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. BoringI think it is funny that today people find sitting around talking to be boring. Just think about the individual entertainment possibilities back then. About all there was to do was talk and socialize. That was normal back then. Can you imagine actually enjoying sitting around talking to someone? It is like these people are aliens or something. Ha Ha. The Rest of the StoryEvery time I see one of these "turn of the century" photos it is like watching an old movie. These people had little idea what would happen to them and their world over their lifetimes. I wonder how they handled it. What happened to them? How did they live their lives? They are all gone now but they left plenty of stories. If only we could hear them. AlluringThere is nothing thats more fun than sitting on the soaked sand in a wet sailor dress, stockings and a shower cap. This may explain why the population gasped in shock when Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr did a similar scene with 50's swimsuits rolling around in the surf. Lately, the guidos and guidettes proclaim to the world their three priorities in life are gym, laundry and tanning. Isn't is strange that not a single sand sculpture has been created? This is their Sunday fun, just sitting on soaked sand in a wet sailor dress, stockings and a shower cap. (These people really need to get out more). We can rest assured however that nobody will get eaten by a shark. At LastWe have young men and women socializing in the Atlantic City's sand and surf. The usual photographs are of the old folks being wheeled about the boardwalk wearing their Sunday best and looking bored or as if they're waiting for the Grim Reaper. Re: The Rest of the StoryMy grandfather, born in 1900, who lived until 2001, would often tell how amazing it was for him to see the invention of automobiles and then air travel. Can you imagine going out in the ocean with your skirt going up above your head? Or trying to swim with the weight of that dreadful outfit? Surely, this photos shows how our fashions have become less and less. And makes one wonder how much "less" in fashion could we possibly go from here? Super centurian centenarianIt is possible but not probable that someone on this beach 5 and under could be alive today without reaching 110. Of course, anyone over five on the beach would have to be 110 or over to still be with us. Early J. PetermanI could be wrong, but I think I've spotted the original "Urban Sombrero." I wonder if there's a man in a cape wandering about. NopeThis just does not look like fun. Hey Guys!Let's all put on our black woolens and go to the beach! Pre-mortemAbsolutely fabulous photo. I can't realize that all those people are quietly lying in their graves now. Gosh. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
Hansom Fillies: 1900
... the sign in the far background promoting The Steel Pier in Atlantic City. I really like any of the pix that show signage (and ladies' fashions and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/18/2012 - 3:31pm -

The latest stop on our circa 1900 walking tour of New York: "Cab stand at Madison Square." Detroit Publishing Co. glass negative. View full size. Bold FilliesOh those bold fillies, showing their ankles. Again, wonderful detail. Some things never change. Shorpy does it againAnother awesome picture Dave. I love the way the two girls are ignoring the sly look of the cab driver. In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking but now, God knows, anything goes. How many beads do you get for flashing the ankles ? The more things change...Yes, indeed -- over the years, the ladies always get our attention, even with all those layers. Near the FlatironAlso note the sign in the far background promoting The Steel Pier in Atlantic City. I really like any of the pix that show signage (and ladies' fashions and personal good looks, for that matter) from back in turn of the century Manhattan. Window undressingWe have not lost the sun, so I wonder why we did away with the awnings that seem to have been common when this wonderful photo was taken. Did AC render them useless? Main SqueezeLook at those waistlines! How were the ladies able to walk without grimacing? Wasp-waistedOne can only imagine the agony of getting into the tight corsets that produced those very slim waistlines when hourglass figures were fashionable at the turn of the century, GiGiThis wonderful picture could be Paris and we might expect to see Leslie Caron at any moment! Be still my heart!Dearest Dude Dave, Every so often I think you've put my dear NYC on the back burner for too long -- and then four of the best you've ever posted, all in a row. God Bless You. Aid to AnachronismPics like this one often make me imagine the same scene a hundred years earlier, and somehow these photos makes it easier: same scene, only ladies and gents in different dress, slightly different tack on the horses and design of the carriages, and the buildings lower -- but with the aid of a pic like this I can imagine more easily what reality really looked like circa 1800. The girls aren't ignoring them,they're concentrating on breathing. Those have to be the most cinched-in waists I've ever seen. Great Title!Yes indeed, those fillies are certainly handsome! Horses nice too. [They're also "Hansom." Get it? - Dave] Got itThe rigs are Hansom cabriolets, or "cabs" for short. Named for their designer, the architect Joseph Hansom. O Pioneers!With one daring and coquettish swish of their skirts, the ladies sashay fashionably into the new century. You go, girls! New York WomenEven 110 years later, these two women are instantly recognizable as New Yorkers. You would have no problem finding that same expression of hostile aloofness on the streets of Manhattan today. I imagine that just out of the frame to the left are a couple of Irish nannies taking care of the children of these two. Great picLove this picture. Makes me wish I could paint and reproduce it. So much human interest -- two beautiful girls passing by completely oblivious of the admiring look of the cab driver This picture has been "done" many times in later eras but it is even more intriguing because of the era. I love the swish of the girls' skirts. They are hurrying and too busy to notice the cabbie's glance. Joie de VivreA really nice image. It feels "alive." 110 Years LaterUsing Google Maps, I found the location of the photo. We're looking south along 5th Avenue where Broadway crosses at Madison Square Park. In the photo the park is on the left and you can just see the Flatiron through the trees. I couldn't move the vantage point any closer to the photographer's position since the Google vans don't drive on the sidewalks. View Larger Map Sex and the City 100 years priorCarrie Bradshaw and Charlotte 100 years earlier? Lovely photo! (The Gallery, DPC, Horses, NYC)
Coming Through: 1905
... Grief! A steam train going through the middle of the city? Oh, I see, there's a man waving a flag, it's safe then. Syracuse City ... The engine is a nearly new New York Central "I" Class Atlantic type, built by Schenectady, which had only just become the American ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 2:10pm -

Syracuse, N.Y., circa 1905. "Empire State Express (New York Central Railroad) coming thru Washington Street." Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Romanticized View of the Syracuse TrainA slightly different postcard view. ChuggingThis is wild. It's one thing to see a big train going through a town on a regular, graded right of way, but this is reminiscent of the Coors Beer commercial. Hell's Kitchen on horsebackTrains ran up 10th Avenue in Manhattan up to at least the 1930s, with men on horseback leading the way. Good Grief!A steam train going through the middle of the city? Oh, I see, there's a man waving a flag, it's safe then. Syracuse City HallHas its own post right here. Urban locomotiveA familiar sight in Syracuse until 1936. The trains were limited to 15 mph through the city. I'll just bet... the engineer is texting. CinematicAm I the first person to see this and think of the dream sequence in "Inception"? Magritte, for me"Time Transfixed." Take the I TrainWhat a beautiful shot, everything spic and span, even flowers. The engine is a nearly new New York Central "I" Class Atlantic type, built by Schenectady, which had only just become the American Locomotive Works. Spit and polish, as it ought to be. Track questionThis brings up something I've always wondered about -- are trolley tracks the same gauge as railroad tracks? Can a train run on trolley tracks and vice versa? Yes, trains in the middle of townIn Austin, Texas, where I live, I can remember the Southern Pacific running trains down Fourth Street and stopping all traffic on Congress Avenue (the six-lane main street, running south from the capitol) while the cars passed, as late as the middle 1970s. And it was an un-signaled grade crossing, too! Regarding track gauge: The majority of modern-day trolley systems do conform to railroad standard gauge (4 feet 8½ inches, or 1.435 meters), but this is by no means universal. Gauges ranging from three-foot narrow gauge to broad gauges wider than five feet are still in use. Incroyable!!!Tres belle photo. Jamais vu ca. En France, meme au debut des chemins de fer, il y avait des barrieres pour securiser les voies. Trolley WireAnyone care to comment on why the overhead trolley wire has a net over a portion of its length? Always a disappointmentSometimes, if I'm particularly moved by a historic landscape, I will try to find the same location on Google Maps. As usual, I am dismayed by how much of this particular landscape has changed. Apparently, only the large Romanesque building remains, although there are many other fine historic buildings down the road. View Larger Map (The Gallery, DPC, Railroads, Syracuse)
Ocean Spray: 1910
The Jersey Shore circa 1910. "Atlantic City bathers." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. ... get an image in daylight. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/12/2011 - 9:48am -

The Jersey Shore circa 1910. "Atlantic City bathers." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. People SoupToo many people in too small of a water area creates the image of some type of tepid human broth. There's a whole ocean and entire shoreline out there, so why is everybody clustered in the same small space? It would be like someone getting on a bus containing only the driver and one passenger and the newcomer sitting down to share a seat with that one passenger. (Yes, it did happen to me). BathersI see Tina Fey's grandmother in the front left, about to pounce on someone. And what's with the guy with the umbrella, out in the deeper waters? WOW!!!This is one of the few Shorpy photos from this era where most of the folks are smiling and appear to be having a lot of fun. Unguarded smilesIt's rare to see so many spontaneous, unguarded smiling faces at once in such an old photo. I love it. What's this world coming to???Some of the young couples in this photo are touching each other in public. One couple is even holding hands!! Where's the morality police when you need them?? Pleasant findWhat a pleasant picture. It seems so odd to see so many people smiling. Except for their suits, they don't look that different from modern folks. The lady holding an umbrella far out in the water is an odd sight, though it may not have been back then. Tina Fey's grandmotheris standing in front to the left. I wonderWhat ever became of this couple? So rare to see such an intimate moment from that time. SunscreenThe lady is about to get her sunscreen washed away. ShadeLove the solitary figure, fairly out into the water, with an umbrella. That's a pretty tricky device to walk about with in active surf currents. All in all, a very happy and jovial group. Happy JuiceWow. This is the first time I have ever seen a picture from this era with literally EVERYONE smiling! It makes the photo seem all the more timeless. Awesome. Rain ?One person standing with umbrella in the back ! Always good too see so many people having fun, great picture ! Just like yesterdayImpromtu and unposed, smiles and laughing rarely seen in vintage pics and even the sun's glint off the water make me think this could have been taken yesterday if it were not for the swimsuits... ParasolingLove the woman with the parasol far in the back of the crowd. In water up to her shoulders, but we must keep that parasol high and proud. Life's a beachI like beach scenes like this. Most of the ones I have seen had people in it that looked as if they were waiting in line at the DMV. Slim swimmingContrast this photo with the overweight people you would see at the same beach today. Only 15?Wow, surprised it took 15 comments to point out the lack of fat people on the beach 100 years ago. Slow day at Shorpy! I'm more interested in the people out in the boat. Looks kinda dangerous out there! Companion shotEveryone is posed so nicely in the other shot - then the splash happens! Focus?Can someone explain why these shots are in focus as opposed to the 'ghost' and blurred figures in other shots of people just walking by? [This glass plate was exposed for a split second to stop the action; in other cases, longer exposures were used because of dim light, or to use a smaller lens aperture in order to achieve sharper focus over a greater range of distance. By this time, photographic emulsions were sensitive enough that long exposures were not necessary just to get an image in daylight. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
Beach Buggy: 1905
The Jersey Shore circa 1905. "At Atlantic City." In the background: Clabby's baths on the boardwalk. Detroit Publishing ... make passes At girls upon asses. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Horses, Swimming) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2012 - 3:07pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1905. "At Atlantic City." In the background: Clabby's baths on the boardwalk. Detroit Publishing Co. glass negative. View full size. Let me be the first to say"Those are some nice girls on those asses!" Watch your stepSo ... just how clean is that sand going to be? Beach GigglesThe guy in the cart seems to be having way too much fun. Unlike the girl on the right. TimelessThis is a fantastic picture -- crop the faces and put them on Facebook and this could have been taken this summer! Oh someone took my line!I was going to say, "Nice Asses!" but I am too late! Darnit!! ha ha ha The girl on the right says"My parents dragged me to the beach and now I have to sit on this donkey...and I don't want the tee shirt!" Which twin has the Toni?The twins dress alike but have different hairstyles. PoliticsLooks like an early Democratic convention. Beach politicsIn response to NPB's comment below, I'm sure the users of the beach would have preferred it not to have been the Republican convention. Dorothy AgainMen seldom make passes At girls upon asses. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Horses, Swimming)
Miss Illegible: 1921
... contestants in the first (1921) Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. http://www.pageantopolis.com/international/America_1920.htm ... the Quaker City in the beauty review to be held in Atlantic City some time in September. Literally winsome Nellie didn't ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/22/2022 - 12:25pm -

        UPDATE: This is the lovely Miss Nellie Orr! Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "Nellie [Illegible], Miss Philadelphia." Perhaps someone out there can put a last name to this winsome face. View full size. Like some kind of sea creatureWhat a fantastically weird hat. Nellie OrrI think it was Orr. http://www.misspa.org/past.htm Up in Here"Why are ya'all up in my grill?" Actually,she's the cutest beauty pageant contestant ever. Miss Nellie OrrMiss Nellie Orr, Miss Philly 1921 and one of only eight contestants in the first (1921) Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. http://www.pageantopolis.com/international/America_1920.htm Nellie looked "spunky". Miss Nellie OrrThe Coshocton Tribune (Ohio), 10 September 1921 (via NewspaperArchive.com): SHE'LL REPRESENT MISS PHILADELPHIA IN BEAUTY REVIEW Miss Nellie Orr of Philadelphia was chosen in the recent beauty contest to represent the Quaker City in the beauty review to be held in Atlantic City some time in September. Literally winsomeNellie didn't have much equipment even by the standards of that day (teeth didn't matter, shape did!) but something in her look tells me she would have been a formidable competitor in anything she chose. She certainly didn't get the scarred lip and broken tooth from tea parties or knitting. Miss Illegible: 1921The girl was Nellie Orr. See this link for list of Miss Philadelphia winners. http://www.misspa.org/past.htm Whoa NellieMISS AMERICA 1921 1921 September 7 8 entries Result 1 WASHINGTON DC - Margaret Gorman Remainder CAMDEN (NJ) - Kathryn M. Gearon HARRISBURG (PA) - Emma Pharo NEW YORK CITY (NY) - Virginia Lee NEWARK (NJ) - Margaret Bates OCEAN CITY (NJ) - Hazel Harris PHILADELPHIA (PA) - Nellie Orr PITTSBURGH (PA) - Thelma Matthews Miss Orr: 1921Looks to the future and tells herself: "I'm gonna be the best Miss Philadelphia ever and with my winnings I'm gonna buy another letter or two for my pathetically short last name!" Near Miss In 1921 Nellie Orr competed as Miss Philly in what would soon become known as the Miss America Pageant, where out of 500 contestants in the "bathers' review," she finished second. Something must have been stuffed -- either the ballot box, or ... Heeere she isIn the Racine Journal-News, same great hat Poor PhiladelphiaFlat as a pancake, foul teeth! My God! I wonder what her contenders looked like. Prosthodontically speakingMiss Orr seems to be sporting a none too artfully fashioned porcelain jacket crown. Or is it an inlay? Her nameYes it was Orr, and she was my great-grandmother on my mom's side. From what my grandfather has told me about her, she was very spunky and outspoken. He used to tell me I reminded him of her! Nellie OrrNellie was my mother's older sister. My mother is 82 and still lives in Haddon Heights, NJ. I hope Heaven is far awayOtherwise, she's still embarrassed every time someone looks at this picture. She's probably saying something on the order of, "Of all the photos taken of me, how did this get to be the one people are still looking at? Now that it is on Shorpy, I will never live it down!" Equipped Just FineMiss Nellie is actually built perfectly for the standards of the day. By 1921 the flapper era was in full swing, emphasizing an almost boyish look with bobbed hair, flattened breasts and few visible curves. It was a reaction to the Victorian style of very long hair and fairly extreme curves accentuated by a corset. It's no surprise she would finish second in the "bathers' revue." (Full disclosure: my grandmother was a flapper. Her hair had never been cut until 1919 at age 12, when she got a bob. She told me her father didn't speak to her for weeks!) What Happened to Miss Philadelphia 1921 Nellie Orr?Does anyone know what became of Nellie Orr? I am researching all eight of the 1921 Miss America Contestants from the first contest and located info on all except for Nellie. Looking for her parents names, Nellie’s married name and when she passed away. Many thanks! You can contact me at NRFB59@aol.com Nellie Orr at Miss America 1921Here she is in her black taffeta swimsuit. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Seawater Baths: 1905
Circa 1905. "Boardwalk, Atlantic City." Strollers on parade, at least one beach baby, and a number of ponies. ... Rolling chairs The rolling chairs are still part of Atlantic City. You pay someone with a chair and they push you on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 6:58pm -

Circa 1905. "Boardwalk, Atlantic City." Strollers on parade, at least one beach baby, and a number of ponies. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Slowly --Careful with the baby!! My eye went straight to the ladies taking the stroller down to the beach. I just love how that moment was captured. About those power linesHawk777-I'd slap a newborn for some of those beehive insulators off to the right. Anyone expecting? Baby Carriages and StairsI wonder about the baby in the pram. Was it a boy or a girl? How much of the 20th century was he/she around to see? My grandfather, born just three years later, said that he thought he'd been born at about the best time possible. Better get a discount for thatIt's "Hot and Cold Seawater Baths"!. Charging for hot seawater baths I could see, but cold? Go swim with the fishies! Rolling chairsI see several examples of rolling chairs in this photo. Can someone enlighten me as to how they worked? Were they like bicycles or were they pushed? I've looked in Boardwalk Empire but he gives no details about their mechanics. [They're something of a Shorpy tradition: for example.] Boardwalk eye candyBoth men and women are stealing glances of the slender young ladies in the center foreground. We'll never see what they saw. The beach and people are nice butDave: best detail yet in all your pics of, er, powerlines. What a waist. The lady in the foreground has quite the figure. Considering the glances within the photo in her general direction, I'm not the only one me thinks. "But each day when she walks to the sea, She looks straight ahead not at me." Rolling chairsThe rolling chairs are still part of Atlantic City. You pay someone with a chair and they push you on the boardwalk. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC)
Just Add Water: 1922
Atlantic City circa 1922. "Four young ladies on a roof." Who can put a name to any of ... in the Miss America Pageant. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, G.G. Bain, Pretty Girls, Swimming) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/11/2013 - 9:55am -

Atlantic City circa 1922. "Four young ladies on a roof." Who can put a name to any of these lovely faces? 5x7 glass negative, Bain News Service. View full size. Hussies!Just look at those revealing outfits. Anyone know what the arm bands might be? They all seem to match. [Locker keys. -tterrace] BravoShorpy finally shows bathing beauties that are actually beauties. Vivacious Girls!Wow, this is the year my mother was born. I never imagined my grandmother, who was a contemporary of these girls, ever looking this jaunty! The gal on the far right isJane Fonda's grandmother...stunning! Ritz-CarltonI think this was taken on the roof of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which would have been new at that time. The IT GirlIs that Clara Bow 2nd from the right in the black suit with the lighter stripes? TimelessIndeed, the young lady on the right is a classic. 'Stunning' is a good word. 'Breathtaking' works as well. The difference a smile makes.What’s the bet one of those young ladies was named Mildred. All jokes aside though... the two (2) young ladies on the right are surely lovely. It’s great to see smiles. It certainly makes a difference to one’s disposition. All cute as a buttonBeing the age of the Flapper, I wonder if they really were as innocent as they looked? Just Add Water 1922I'm not positive, but I think the young woman on the right in the all black bathing suit and headband may be Margaret Gorman - the 1st Miss America (1921). I think those arm bands indicate these girls were participating in the Miss America Pageant. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, G.G. Bain, Pretty Girls, Swimming)
New Garden Pier: 1920
The Jersey Shore circa 1920. "Atlantic City Boardwalk and New Garden Pier." An apt seaside metaphor might be the ... below? What a great photo! [That "street" is the Atlantic City Boardwalk. - Dave] Bernays Thanks, to Ishadoff, for your ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/28/2013 - 11:22pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1920. "Atlantic City Boardwalk and New Garden Pier." An apt seaside metaphor might be the billboard as a sort of terrestrial barnacle, encrusting every available surface with ads for yarn, hair nets, cough drops and typewriters. 5x7 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. 136 peopleon the beach, 78,000 on the boardwalk, also a second (third) story man caught in the act. Heisey's GlasswareThe A. H. Heisey Glass Company was established in Newark, Ohio in 1896. At first Heisey produced mould pressed patterns that simulated cut glass styles of the era. Table sets, cruets, small condiment jars, bowls and syrups were a large part of this production. By 1920, many of these early patterns were no longer considered stylish and Heisey was forced to join the new trend as consumer interest moved toward etched and cut patterns. During the 1920's many glass companies began to focus on color and Heisey was no exception. Vaseline glassware was made in the early 1920's. Later, about 1925, Moongleam (green) and Flamingo (pink) were introduced. Other distinctive colors soon followed and and the period from 1925 to 1938 was Heisey's most prolific color era. Heisey Glass Company Can someone direct meCan someone tell me what "Direction of Stanley Co." refers to, which appears just below the 'Globe' advertisement? I cannot for the life of me figure just what that means, unless there is some part of the sign which is not in view here. Great to see that young Shorpy had tagged the pier with his name. [The Stanley Company of America was a theatrical booking agency, owned and operated theaters and was a pioneer in motion picture exhibition. The Globe Theatre sign advertises the fact that their attractions are supplied by the company and are therefore as wonderful as you'd expect from them. - tterrace] Sumo ping pong?Dave knew when he posted this that someone would comment on the sign for Japanese Ping Pong. But I won't, I won't ... the heck I won't -- I give up, is it any different than any other country's ping pong? BTW happy to see the dog being walked on the beach found the newspapers to do his duty. The BeachDo the folks crammed on the boardwalk know it's there? So Crowded!I can't believe the congestion on the street. It must be a cooler day, as I see coats and overcoats on many folks. Notice the man climbing out the window to the right of the Luden's sign? Or the two men standing on the roof just below the "For Rent" sign and gazing at the crowds below? What a great photo! [That "street" is the Atlantic City Boardwalk. - Dave] BernaysThanks, to Ishadoff, for your information on Edward L. Bernays! The first thing I noticed in this picture was the ad for the hair nets, and thought of how their business was soon going to be drastically reduced by the popularity of the "bob". I remember Grandpa's sisters telling me about getting their hair bobbed and then going to the photographic studio and getting their pictures taken. Their mother was furious and told them not to expect her to put those pictures out on the piano, with all of the other portraits. Within a few months, however, she had her own hair bobbed! I guess we have Mr. Bernays to blame for the "lunch lady" look! Edward L. Bernays and Venida Hair NetsEdward L. Bernays (1891-1995), American consultant to business and government, labored to bring public relations to the status of a profession. Bernays' campaigns for Venida hair nets and Procter & Gamble during the 1920s and Lucky Strike cigarettes during the 1930s provide good examples of his methods. At that time shorter hair styles were becoming the fashion among younger women. This development was a matter of no small concern to the manufacturers of Venida hair nets, who saw the market for their product disappearing along with longer tresses. Bernays was called upon for his advice. Soon prominent women were publicly expressing their preference for long hair over short and assorted authorities were warning of the dangers of unbound hair in factories and restaurants. In response, a number of state governments passed legislation requiring the wearing of hair nets on the job. Edward L. Bernays Some products don't melt awayLuden's cough drops are still with us! Japanese Ping PongJapanese Ping Pong appears to be an arcade game where one rolled balls across a table aiming to sink them through numbered holes. The table may have contained depressions or other topography to increase the challenge. The Poultry Item, April 1914. While visiting Atlantic City a young married farm couple became interested in Japanese Ping-Pong, a game consisting of an oblong table with twelve holes at one end, each bearing a certain number, and ten balls which are rolled from the opposite end with desire to score in these holes. Whenever they went for a stroll his wife edged and schemed to reach the ping pong tables. In a short time she developed enough skill—and luck—to get the second highest possible score. The game became an interesting feature of their vacation. "If the game is enjoyable here it will surely be entertaining at home," they decided. Before leaving the shore he bought a second-hand table and some balls for less than five dollars, had them packed and shipped home where fine emery paper and a little labor placed the game in an excellent condition. The following winter found friends and family turning many dull and dreary evenings into happy ones with newly found game from Atlantic City.
Fun in the Sun: 1904
The Jersey Shore in 1904. "The bathing hour, Atlantic City -- Steeplechase and Steel piers." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/01/2019 - 8:08pm -

The Jersey Shore in 1904. "The bathing hour, Atlantic City -- Steeplechase and Steel piers." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size. Rubber Beach ShoesMy great-grandmother is wearing the Crocs of the day in 1906. Steeplechase Pier TodayThe famous pier is now gone, but today a restaurant, two bars, a gaming area, a coffee shop and a couple retail establishments occupy the pier's footprint. Participation at the ShoreIn New Jersey, you don't go "to the Shore," you go "down the Shore." What will they think of next?Maybe beach blankets. Lack of GravityAmazingly, no obesity in sight. So different todayYou don't see the crowds on the beach like that any more. So many people go to the beach and never get in the water. I read they were rebuilding the Steel Pier -- my wife and I honeymooned at Atlantic City 56 years ago. So we went to see the new Steel Pier. Some new kiddie rides and a Ferris wheel. What a disappointment. Long gone.It's an overwhelming thought when you realize that out of all these people in this photo, not a single one is alive today. Where's Waldo?I think there are two of him in this photo. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
Seasons in the Sun: 1904
The Jersey Shore circa 1904. "The Beach at Atlantic City." One hundred seven years after this photograph was made, the people here ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 12:36pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1904. "The Beach at Atlantic City." One hundred seven years after this photograph was made, the people here are finally ready for their high-definition closeup. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size. The Shame in all the scene, there must be a total of at least two square feet of exposed skin, have they no pride. Donkey on the beach!Today that would at least get you a ticket or worse. My dog loves the beach but I can only take him there off season and during certain hours. What's with the three ladies as well, slightly above and to the left of the photographer. All dressed in white and the one in the middle has her sunglasses on. I think the beach in 1905 was the same as today. I'd really like to go back and mingle with that crowd. Legal action from Dewey, Cheatham & Howe.I hope you sought out and received written permission to publish a high definition image of these sunbathers in such risqué attire. You know how people can get when we focus in on their partially exposed arms. Is that Tim Tebow on the far right? Mildly surprisedThat no one has said it yet. FunWe had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun. But the wine and the song, like the seasons, all have gone. There Dave, I said it. Some things never change!The sea breeze is 15-20 from the SE, just as it was when I spent the first 12 Julys of my life on the Jersey Shore (except 1960). You can tell by the whitecaps, and also the trim of the sails of the gaff sloop running north with a fair wind on the starboard quarter. Can't quite make out the insignia on the mainsail. Mildly Surprised About What?That no one has made a Jersey Shore joke? That no one has wondered aloud at the whereabouts of the photo being taken within this photo? On another topic, does anyone have any idea of the colors we would be seeing in real life? It looks like everyone was wearing black, but I suppose red could appear black in a photo with no color. Surprised what hasn't been said?Life is a beach? ["Get a load of the girl on that ass!" - Dave] I just have to askWho brings a donkey to a beach? Even in 1904! [Roving portrait photographers and other beach concessionaires. - Dave] Flex TimeOh you big bad brute! Flotation DevicesHell with the ass, get a load of the gunboats in the distance! I'll say it.Everyone in this picture is now dead. We all have our day in the sun. Enjoy every day, and make someone around you happy. Life goes by pretty quickly. Also, there looks like another group to the left lining up for an unseen photographer. Found Him!There's Waldo! No wait. There's Waldo, or is he over there! PeacefulNothing beats spending the day at a nice, secluded beach. The Ministry Of Silly HatsGet a load of those crazy hats! Obviously one of the various beach salesmen was peddling them since there seem to be quite a few of them about. Navy or BlackThe most common colors for ladies swim attire at this time was navy, followed by black. The suits were generally made of wool serge. Trimmings might be wool or silk. The New York Times published several nice articles on trends in ladies' swimwear about this time. About the men's attire I know almost nothing. Gotta love the strength of character to wear those wide stripes though! Hair styles.It is interesting to see all the women have their hair pinned up. That makes plenty of sense on a wind swept beach but was that also the style of the day -- to have their tresses pinned up? [This was the heyday of the Gibson Girl pompadour. - Dave] (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Horses, Swimming)
Jersey Shore: 1905
The Jersey Shore circa 1905. "Crowded beach, Atlantic City." These boys have been standing here for over an hour, hoping to spy a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/18/2014 - 12:20am -

The Jersey Shore circa 1905. "Crowded beach, Atlantic City." These boys have been standing here for over an hour, hoping to spy a bare ankle. View full size. About bathing suitsAn interesting article in the Lewiston Evening Journal, Jul-8, 1905, "The bathing suit of 1905". According to the article, the leading fabrics were flannel, sorge and mohair (also taffeta silk if money was not in consideration). About the colors, the favorite was black, then blue, and brown and red as emerging trends. Another article. Magnificent MillineryI have been debating as to which of the glorious hats worn in pics like these is the most beautiful; the shower caps or the straw buckets. At any rate, they are both lovely accompaniments to the "sexy" bathing suits that were worn with them! Actually, most of the bathing suits weren't black, but they were Navy blue, so that's not a whole lot better! The women even wore corsets under those bathing suits, so that was a lot of layers of fabric, not just hot, but heavy when wet. All together nowLike birds swarming a birdbath, one would think that with 1600 miles of east coast beach, the people would have spread out a little; there is barely a path for one person to get by and nobody will give up their spot. That was a difference I noticed when I first saw the west coast and the Pacific, around San Francisco, with just a few people per beach in the early 1960's. [However, San Francisco beaches are generally more, shall we say, brisk, than the one at Atlantic City. - tterrace] Men in BlackIn black and white film everybody wears black and gray. I really doubt these suits (especially the midi dresses and sailor style tops) are black. They are more likely navy blue. There could easily be brown and red mixed in there too. How near can you go?I have been to more than a few beaches in my life (both on the West and East Coast) and have NEVER seen people this closely bunched up together. I am TRULY curious; was there a whole different way of looking at how close you wanted to be and/or could be to your neighbor or friend 107 years ago? (It seems like the rule here was the nearer the better but being a rather private person, I would have been the one trying to get a little space-all this crowding would have driven me nuts!) Answer Me ThisLooks like a great day at the beach. However, why is everyone garbed in black? You'd think that one would be dressed in light colors for a day like this. Maybe even back then, people knew about the effects of a "Wet T-Shirt"! Beach nearnessI think these are some of the main factors explaining the crowded beach: popular destination, well-kept and well-provided with amenities; easily accessible via abundant train schedules; huge population base nearby; the one day of the week most people had free; hot weather. So, you're in New York City on a hot, muggy Sunday; most likely you can't afford a car or a carriage, but you do have train fare. What to do? Hop on a train to Atlantic City, of course. Along with thousands and thousands of other people with the same idea. Except for those other thousands and thousands creating scenes like this at Coney Island. Re: MillineryLook at how the women are wearing their wide-brim hats...with string tied under their chin. What great sun protection! We should bring that style back into popularity. Glimpse o'GamTalk about spying a bare ankle! Faithful readers of Capt. Billy's Whiz Bang were often treated to a glimpse of an entire woman's leg on the cover, accompanied by an implied wink of the publisher's eye. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
Pleasure Pavilion: 1910
The Jersey Shore circa 1910. "Steel Pier, Atlantic City." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 12:47pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1910. "Steel Pier, Atlantic City." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. The Cakewalk was a dance form...The Cakewalk dance was developed from a "Prize Walk" done in the days of slavery, generally at get-togethers on plantations in the Southern United States. Alternative names for the original form of the dance were "chalkline-walk", and the "walk-around". At the conclusion of a performance of the original form of the dance in an exhibit at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, an enormous cake was awarded to the winning couple. Thereafter it was performed in minstrel shows, exclusively by men until the 1890s. The inclusion of women in the cast "made possible all sorts of improvisations in the Walk, and the original was soon changed into a grotesque dance" which became very popular across the country. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cakewalk White Folks' CakewalkI recall from the early 1950's, going to a rural school's harvest festival wherein cakewalks were performed by having all the people march around the perimeter of the cafeteria to recorded music. When the music stopped, the person who was standing in a designated spot won a wonderful homemade cake. I expect the people taking part would not "have gotten" the slaves' satiric dance steps. But we all had fun at what we were doing. Before the DonaldEither Shorpy's photos of recreational facilities were all taken on Sundays, with the people in their "go to meeting clothes", or society's idea of having fun was to dress up for the occasion. Atlantic City before Donald Trump: innocent entertainment. Vessella's BandHere's some recordings of the featured Vessella's Italian Band to complete the mood. http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/artists/detail/id/858 TimingPerfect, as HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" has its Season 2 premiere next Sunday. CakewalksI do wish I could see more of the poster headlined "Cake Walks." I wonder what that was all about? But where's the baby?The pram is empty! I would submit that the tike is in the process of being buried up to his neck under the boardwalk by his out-of-patience siblings. To-DayEnhanced and enlarged. More About The Cake WalkIt was a dance craze of some kind. See these items: http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3cake1.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cakewalk Piece of CakeThe Cakewalk is a dance done to ragtime music, a huge fad at this time. It was originated by black people, and then became popular with whites, too, who saw cakewalks performed in minstrel shows. Couples jig or prance along in a line, two by two, and the best (or most outrageous) couple win a prize, such as a cake - they literally "take the cake"! Sparkling Unlike many buildings we see in Shorpy Times, the beach pavilions usually look spotless. I'm guessing a fresh coat of paint was in order every season. Cakewalk explainedCakewalk and ragtime were closely associated, and were just about the most popular dance and music styles of this period. The music's syncopated, jaunty rhythms inspired then-eccentric dance moves. If you were young and up-to-date, this was your thing. Icing but I don't danceSo delicious cake was at least peripherally involved in this activity? Well OK. Doin' the cakewalkHere are some good examples of people performing the cakewalk, circa 1903: Cakewalk into TownA slower tempo, roots-based musical accompaniment for your cakewalk, Taj Mahal (vocals) and Howard Johnson (Tuba): Cakewalk into Town, 1972. [Warning! YouTube link, marginally NSFW lyrics, "throw your big leg over me, mama", admissions of crime, "I spend my whole day stealing chickens, mama, from the rich folks' yard," whistling.] (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC)
Million-Dollar Pier: 1907
Atlantic City, New Jersey, circa 1907. "Young's Million-Dollar Pier." One of the main ... Young the proprietor is giving visitors and residents of Atlantic City the greatest array of Amusements this resort has ever attempted ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/01/2011 - 1:07pm -

Atlantic City, New Jersey, circa 1907. "Young's Million-Dollar Pier." One of the main attractions of "Captain" John Young's 1,700-foot pier was a deep-sea net haul of fish from the far end. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Where's Cinderella?I think we found her three sisters. Free Willy's ancestorsI'd be most interested in seeing the live whales. The Insignificant SumCapt. Young the proprietor is giving visitors and residents of Atlantic City the greatest array of Amusements this resort has ever attempted for the insignificant sum of ten cents. Incidentally, bear in mind, that after purchasing one admission ticket for ten cents the visitor to the Pier does not have to pay another cent for anything. It's a big free show after one enters the gates. Must have been a no hat day !!Accustomed as I am to photos of this era and the preponderance of hats on both sexes, it seems odd to see six women hatless in this photo ! Also the gentleman by the lamppost left of center looks a bit shifty as well ! Hat Hair!These ladies give new meaning to the phrase "hat hair" - nary a hat in sight except on the males! Spell check, please"...no settlement what ever OCCURD..." Hope they were better at pouring concrete than they were at spelling. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC)
Nine Lives: 1910
... their ill-fated attempt at the first air crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View ... exploded in front of the gathered crowd near Atlantic City, and gondola plunged 750 meters into an inlet. -- Wikipedia ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/09/2013 - 1:31am -

October 1910, aboard the steamship Trent off Bermuda. "M. Vaniman and cat." Melvin Vaniman, first engineer aboard the hydrogen airship America, with the tabby cat mascot of their ill-fated attempt at the first air crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. Just As WellOur cat Diablo would be a dangerous source of static electricity were he on board a hydrogen filled airship. Patting him actually causes interference on an AM radio! Maybe it's just as well that the America's crossing was aborted. Vaniman's DemiseVaniman lost his life during his second attempt at a trans-Atlantic airship crossing when his airship, the Akron, exploded off the New Jersey shore on July 2, 1912. Filled with 11,300 cubic meters of hydrogen gas, his was the first American airship that could compare to the better known European manufactured models. Vaniman and his crew of four were killed when the airship exploded in front of the gathered crowd near Atlantic City, and gondola plunged 750 meters into an inlet. -- Wikipedia A more fortunate feline.... than the one that accompanied Shackleton and the crew of ENDURANCE to the south polar seas. R.I.P. Mrs. Chippy. Anyone got a lint brush?I love that the guy holding the cat is covered in cat hair. Some things never change... Never annoy a cat...That cat is definitely planning an act of revenge. Flying cat!I was hoping that we'd get to see the cat. Looks like he was leash trained. [Also rope trained. The New York Times reported that Kitty jumped out of the airship in heavy fog early in the voyage but was fished out of the Atlantic with a canvas bag attached to a lifeline. - Dave] What happened to the cat?Out of sheer curiosity, is it known what happened to the cat when the America was abandoned by its crew? [That''s what the photo is of. The crew after they were rescued by the Trent. - Dave] Lint RollerLooks to have cat hair all over his sweater and coat. Just like my clothes, my house, furniture and every damn thing I own. It was never my intention to love a cat and I swear, I will never love another one. Re: HELIUM, not hydrogen, DID NOT explodeWriting in ALL CAPS is irritating enough when people are "correcting" a previous comment. When the "correcter" turns out to be the one who needs correcting, it's ESPECIALLY annoying. Akron lost in storm, did not explode.The Akron was lost in a storm on April 3rd,1933, off the coast of New Jersey. It DID NOT explode as reported above. It was filled with 6,500,000 cubic feet of HELIUM, not hydrogen. US airships never used hydrogen. 73 men went down with her. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Akron_(ZRS-4) [Wrong. The very first sentence of that Wikipedia article notes that there was more than one airship called the Akron. Like my sixth-grade teacher used to say, it always pays to check your facts. - Dave] All according to plan?The cat's expression is so calm and cool. It's almost as if he may have had a paw in the ship's demise... To use the colloquial expression...BURN (pun intended) On a side note, I have decided personal Zeppelin would be an awesome way to travel. Provided hydrogen is not the source of one's lift of course. I wonder about that cat ....That cat looks downright diabolical. I wonder if, in two years, Kitty had something to do with the Titanic, and if he is plotting it even as this picture is being taken. One should never underestimate the power of a cat .... Cat Conspiracy TheoristsSo the consensus is that it was the cat's fault? My dog would buy that. Kiddo, the airship cathttp://www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/famous/kiddo.html Love the cat! And the cat hair!Frederick Murray Simon, the navigator of the airship America, from which this cat was rescued, was on the maiden voyage of the Hindenburg! http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/flight-schedule/maiden-voyage (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cats, G.G. Bain, Zeppelins & Blimps)
Railroad Avenue: 1925
... D.C. "Texas Co., Minute Service Station No. 8, Twining City." Pennsylvania Avenue at Railroad Avenue S.E. near the Sousa Bridge. 8x10 ... of Anacostia in 1957. Lived on Brandywine Street down near Atlantic and later on Oakwood. Worked at the Congress Theatre while in school. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/19/2018 - 8:05pm -

        First posted here 10 years ago, and now updated with a better-quality image. 1925. Washington, D.C. "Texas Co., Minute Service Station No. 8, Twining City." Pennsylvania Avenue at Railroad Avenue S.E. near the Sousa Bridge. 8x10 inch glass negative, National Photo Company Collection. View full size. 4 or More FlivversLooks like at least four of the autos here are Model T Fords, which would be as expected given their prominence on the road in the mid-'20's. While it's easy to love the architecture seen here, with those great old Victorian survivors, the street was a mess, and the mass of phone poles unaesthetic as well. Note the broken light pole globe, I wonder if that was the work of vandals? [It's not really broken. It's just missing. - Dave] Gas BarSelling multiple brands of gasoline was much more common in the early days. Other countries still use the "gas bar" concept. The streets were in sorry shape in 1920's Washington. StreetsIn sorry shape, yes, and unless I'm mistaken about that pile in the middle, apparently still used by the occasional horse despite the convenient availability of gasoline. Twining CityThe intersection of Railroad and Pennsylvania avenues was in the neighborhood of Twining just across the Sousa Bridge over the Anacostia River in the 1907-ish map below. It seems Railroad is about where Fairlawn Ave SE is today (all the other streets in the old map line up pretty well to today's view) with several gas stations still on the corners. [Oh thank you. I knew "Turnning" couldn't be right. - Dave] New Filling Station Added Washington Post, June 28, 1925 New Filling Station Added Store Number 8 of Minute Service Stations Opens Today The Minute Service Stations operating a chain of filling stations and accessories stores throughout Washington, announce the opening of their newest plant, at the intersection of Pennsylvania avenue and Railroad avenue, southeast, at the south end of the Pennsylvania avenue bridge. The opening of this station marks the advent of the Minute Service stations into Southeast Washington. The new station will be known as No. 8. The station is exceptionally well planned with very wide driveways, numerous visible pumps, air towers, drainage pits and other modern equipment. Pies to GoI am not old enough to remember this gas station, but years later directly across Pennsylvania Avenue was Stevenson's Pies. They came in a black and white checkerboard box, best pies in D.C. Saturdays there was always a traffic jam trying to get into the parking lot to stock up on pies for Sunday. Wish they had a picture of that. Stevenson's or Stephenson's?Either way I remember them from the late 1950s. I lived up the hill in Congress Heights and once a month we would stop by and get the big box (I remember it as being 500 cookies but not sure if that is accurate or a little kid's wishful thinking) of their cookies. Have never run across any cookies that were so heavenly since then, sort of a "tea cookie" I believe. [The name was Stephenson Pie Bakery. - Dave] Congress HeightsI lived in Congress Heights also. Graduate of Anacostia in 1957. Lived on Brandywine Street down near Atlantic and later on Oakwood. Worked at the Congress Theatre while in school. Small world. Suggested locationGiven the acute angle at which Pennsylvania and Railroad avenues met, this seems to me more likely to be a short distance west of that intersection. The street in the foreground appears to be 22nd, as it approaches Ellicott Circle/Pennsylvania Avenue, while the street at left is almost certainly Railroad Avenue as it dead-ends. Based on the 1921 Baist atlas, my best guess is that the camera is facing west along Railroad Avenue as marked with the blue line below. My old stomping ground!!Stephenson Pie Bakery was an every-Sunday event in my family. We would go to church at St. Francis on Pennsylvania Avenue and head right to the Bakery -- the best in all of Washington D.C. Yep, Black and White checker boarddesign on the floor, too. The display was huge, the entire width of the store. People lined up and waited, but unlike today, talked and laughed and just looked forward to getting their goodies, and didn't care about rushing. Their pies are like no other I have ever had since it was taken down. My memory is that it was to the right of the bridge as you started over. Even on Sunday there was always a traffic jam because of the people waiting to get into the lot. I did find several huge napkins on eBay that were from Stephenson Pie Bakery and they even have the phone number on them and the checkerboard design. I sure would love to find a picture of that old bakery. To think, my uncles used to sell Christmas trees right up the street from the above photo!! At the parking lot where the old Highland Theatre used to be. Every Christmas they were out there and almost froze to death selling those trees, but they loved it, and so did those that came back year after year. Early Amoco Gas Station?This station is selling Standard Oil of Indiana (Amoco in later days, which came from the gas brand listed on top of the far right pump). I think whoever took the picture thought it was The Texas Company (Texaco in later days) but the Standard pump globes give it away. Minute must have been a franchisee for Amoco! [This picture was taken for the Texas Company -- Texaco was a National Photo client and commissioned dozens of these photos. - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Gas Stations, Natl Photo)
A.C. Beach Patrol: 1907
... Jersey Shore circa 1907. "Lifesavers on the lookout." The Atlantic City Beach Patrol is watching you . 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/02/2022 - 1:02pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1907. "Lifesavers on the lookout." The Atlantic City Beach Patrol is watching you. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Women’s bathing costumesCan you imagine how heavy those swimming outfits would be once they got wet! On the Lookout?With that heavy surf shouldn't the lifesavers be looking in the other direction? Granted, a photographer with an 8x10 view camera might draw some eyes, and something is going on with the trio nearest the stand, most everyone else in front of the camera is looking toward the water. For those more familiar with Atlantic City beaches, is the A.C.B. Patrol still in business? I wonder what training they had. Speedo to the RescueKnitted swimsuits tended to absorb a great deal of water, resulting in elongation and sagging. As a result, they provided modesty only as long as they stayed dry. Speedo, the Australian clothing company, started to experiment with swimwear in 1914. By 1920, it was possible for women to buy something a little more like contemporary swimwear than what we see in the photograph. A man appears to be in distressnext to the lifeguard stand, as a woman attempts to assist him. Answer for LEZ Yes, the ACPB is still active! The ACBP was formed in 1891. Deja VuI have photos just like this featuring my grandma as a child at the beach with her family, from about the same time. I only have eyes for youI am intrigued by the body language of the couple having a conversation while standing knee-deep in the coming waves. They're visible beyond and between the pair of ladies in the foreground and the girl beside them with the long flowing hair. The couple look as though they don't know if they're in a garden, or on a crowded avenue ... just talking as though there is little or no ambient noise. Anyone who has ever conversed with someone at the beach knows that, the closer you get to a pounding surf, the more you have to raise your voice to be heard. But their attitude is quiet and even intimate. I also like the beautiful little boy behind them, standing by himself, wearing what look to be overalls, holding his arms out. I think he was loving his time at the edge of a heaving sea but not quite sure what to make of it. First impressionIt ain't Baywatch. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
A Ride on the Boardwalk: 1907
... The Jersey Shore circa 1907. "Haddon Hall and Boardwalk, Atlantic City." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 2:41pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1907. "Haddon Hall and Boardwalk, Atlantic City." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Steamboat Gothic.It may not be on the Mississippi, but Haddon Hall certainly presents all the features of the style. AmpleLady on the right would be described by my grandmother as a Lady of Ample Bosom. Beautiful photo, thanks. Capturing life's momentsA great photo to study people of yesteryear. For instance, the handsome couple on the extreme right, strolling along in what appears to be an intense conversation. How cool would it be to recognize, from old family photos, your grandfather and grandmother or even great-grandma and grandpa in their youth? Also interesting in these type photos are the clothes of kids such as the little boy at the end of the ramp with shorts and one of those wide brimmed hats and the teenage girl with ribbons - just as we have seen in old movies. Shorpy is more than a business - it is a great service to understanding past times. Leeds & Lippincott Genealogical and Memorial History of the State of New Jersey, 1910. In 1890 he [Henry West Leeds] came to Atlantic City and opened Haddon Hall, in partnership with J. Haines Lippincott. Subsequently his mother sold out her interests in the Tremont House and joined with her son in operating Haddon Hall, and winning for it its wide and popular reputation as a homelike hotel. The hotel will accommodate four hundred and fifty guests, and is one of the most central and convenient of the hotels in Atlantic City. Being at the ocean end of North Carolina avenue, it commands an unobstructed view of the ocean and the boardwalk, and during the twenty years that Mr. Leeds has been connected with the house, he has established a most enviable reputation among people of culture and refinement. The house is beautifully furnished and decorated, and on its walls can be seen the best collection of water colors of any seaside resort hotel in the country. The hotel is open all the year. Stayin' FitI have a strong suspicion that pushing one of those carts about over the course of a season kept one in pretty good shape. I wonder how far these folks usually covered in a day. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC)
Guarantee Trust: 1908
Circa 1908. "Atlantic Avenue -- Atlantic City, N.J." The business end of A.C. 8x10 inch dry plate glass ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/07/2014 - 3:51pm -

Circa 1908. "Atlantic Avenue -- Atlantic City, N.J." The business end of A.C. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. AbbreviatedThe building still stands, minus the turret, on the northeast corner of Atlantic Avenue and S. North Carolina Avenue. View Larger Map Guarantee Deja VuThis building makes a number of appearances here on Shorpy, from a number of different angles and from a couple of different years. Approaching from the east in 1905, on the right here. Approaching from the west in 1906 in the distance beyond the train station, a portion of which can be seen across North Carolina Ave in the 1908 picture here. In the three years, from 1905 to 1908, the street seems to have become paved, Thanks for these pictures of this great old building, which still stands. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC)
Jersey Shore: 1904
... Jersey Shore circa 1904. "Steeplechase Pier and bathers, Atlantic City." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/20/2012 - 3:41pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1904. "Steeplechase Pier and bathers, Atlantic City." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Women's bathing suits on sale today!Any color you want, as long as it's black. Shark!Just a dozen years more and to these waters (and Matawan Creek) will come a visitor that would be the primary inspiration for "Jaws" -- the Matawan Man-Eater. Water WingsIn the center bottom a woman is holding .. donno .. water wings I suppose. Have to wonder what they were made of in 1904. [Rubberized canvas. - Dave] So many pee-opleSo little ocean. WashdayThese folks sure saved money on laundry detergent -- and bar soap, too. Then As NowToo many people. Bathing suit bluesOh, for color film in 1904! Even though most of these suits were probably rented, I think we'd see many more dark blue bathing suits than black ones. Among the personally owned suits we'd also see some red, some dark gray, and occasionally a white one. Ads for suits mentioned solid colors along with navy blue or plain black, but the blue ones seemed to be the most popular. Most of the surviving suits from the period now in museums are some shade of dark blue. Even patterns for homemade swimsuits available in the years before this picture was taken recommend more blue material than anything else. Looking at patterns for eleven different bathing suits spanning nearly twenty years, I found two that were for striped material (one red and white, and one not stated - see the woman closest to the camera at bottom center in the picture), one for white, one for red, and one for patterned material. The other six recommended: 1) Russian blue flannel, with ruffles of white embroidery and consists of drawers, blouse and cap. The cap was made of white oiled silk. 2) Dark blue flannel, trimmed with bands of white on which are lines of red soutache. 3) Navy blue flannel, with a white collar, vest and belt ornamented with feather stitching. 4) Either of dark blue serge or Alpaca, consists of short drawers buttoned to a blouse waist which has a vest and a collar of white serge trimmed with a black braid and a skirt. 5) Red or blue flannel and consists of drawers, blouse, vest and skirt. 6) Dark blue serge, bound with white worsted braid, and ornamented in chain stitch embroidery with white split zephyr worsted. Even most of the reproductions made today are blue. Below are four surviving suits from museums or vintage clothing auctions, along with a reproduction (on the full-length mannequin). And in case you were wondering - yes, they wore swimming corsets under their bathing suits too, which were smaller than their normal ones. CoveredThe straw hat vendor must have made a mint on that beach! Last of Victorian ModestyWhat an event to actually see a man's underarms, a woman's thighs, the wet bodies that leave so little to the prudish to surmise ! I see that many of the men wear "letter" tops that belie the use of sportswear as swimming clothing & I also wonder if not that the rather ubiquitous floppy straw hats are also worn by men as much as by women. Experiences like these certainly pushed to old morals of the 19th Century right out of the average persons mind quickly. Ready to cakewalk & then tango right into the next fast-paced twenty years, after which even times like these would seen idyllic & far too contrived & controlled for any sincere fun seeker of the new century. A punch upabout to start next to the woman with the water wings! Up close and personalScan the surf line and count the number of men holding women (and women holding women). Probably one of the only socially acceptable times to touch or be close to the opposite sex in 1904 without chaperones. Jersey ShoreLook at the crowds! More than on a holiday weekend today. No exposed skin anywhere on the beach. Where are the lifeguards? Oh, they had none. Looks like it was "Swim at your own risk." I found Waldo!Hiding in plain sight, right up front. Water Wings & SwimsuitsI have an old pair of water wings that are a more teardrop shaped that are made of rubber lined white canvas. I doubt they would keep an adult afloat on their own, at best only offering a bit of help for a weak swimmer or one just learning. Thanks to Tobacconist for the great commentary and illustrations on vintage swim wear. My research confirms his/hers regarding color preferences during the heyday "skirts and bloomers" era of women's swim wear (roughly the 1850s through the 1910s, or 1920s for the most modest). I suspect the popularity of dark blue was because of the nautical associations that show up almost universally in the trim on women's suits (white trimmed sailor collars, anchors, etc.) Also, dark colors remain opaque when wet. Very important to modesty to be sure! -- Glenna Jo the swimsuit collector (using her husband's account to comment) Thanks, Tobacconist!Actually, I WAS wondering if they wore corsets under their bathing costumes! Some of the shapes really look like it. It makes a lot of sense that most of the suits would have been blue too, especially Navy-blue, since that is associated with the ocean. I think it would be very uncomfortable to wear so much clothing in the water, but I guess it wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't heavy fabric. I'll bet it was fairly heavy, though, especially the rented suits, to be able to hold up to a lot of use. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
The Steel Pier: 1910
The Jersey Shore circa 1910. "Steel Pier, Atlantic City." Now playing: Vessella's Italian Band. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/20/2012 - 3:43pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1910. "Steel Pier, Atlantic City." Now playing: Vessella's Italian Band. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Fresh Running Water In Every Room!... but I want standing water. Is you water running?Then you'd better stop it! It just ran past my house! Sorry, very old joke. I see Harold Lloyd.And a lot of his clones. Just needs to add some suitable movie piano music. Time MachineThese types of pictures are why I return to Shorpy week after week. Since nobody is letting me borrow their time machine I happily get my fix here! On the BoardwalkAnd under it! Trying to avoid the heat? With one exception,every single woman in the photo has a great figure! Before the golf cartHow were those wicker carts powered? [By people. - Dave] -5Five years earlier, the lighted Steel Pier signs had not yet been installed at the top of the building, but the place was hoppin' just the same. Wicker cartsI am also wondering how those wicker carts were powered. It doesn't look like there is any steering mechanism. It also looks like they may be built on tricycle wheels, but where are the pedals?? Hmmm, a mystery for sure! [The Boardwalk's famous "rolling chairs" are powered by the person pushing them. - Dave] Steel PierMy wife and I went there for our Honeymoon 51 years ago. Brenda Lee was playing there./ A few years ago I heard they had rebuilt the Steel Pier. LOL Yeah they put a merry go round and a ferris wheel on it. It's too bad it was a great way to spend a day and not expensive. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
The Seaside: 1905
Atlantic City, New Jersey, circa 1905. "Seaside Hotel." 8x10 inch dry plate glass ... Mom with crutch pushing baby carriage. Monopolists Atlantic City, home of the famous Boardwalk. I wonder if they passed "Go." ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 4:03pm -

Atlantic City, New Jersey, circa 1905. "Seaside Hotel." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Vacationing VictoriansOh how I love this photo! Most everything during this time is beautiful, the homes, hotel and the very lovely ladies. I wish I could stroll this street right now. I was born in the wrong time. Sigh. Five Kinds of Wheels1. Motor vehicle 2. Horse drawn wagons 3. Bicycle 4. Entrepreneurial fellow with the wicker push chair 5. Mom with crutch pushing baby carriage. MonopolistsAtlantic City, home of the famous Boardwalk. I wonder if they passed "Go." Paddle Steamer HotelThe structure of that hotel is reminiscent of the big paddle steamers, with the full-length double deck verandas, the tall cupolas taking the place of the smokestacks, and the staircased portico at the side standing in for the paddle wheel. I wonder if this was deliberate imitation. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, Bicycles, DPC)
Wish You Were Here: 1906
Circa 1906, Atlantic City bathers peering a century into the future. "Hotel Traymore and Brady's ... pictures. He's having a great time. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 7:25pm -

Circa 1906, Atlantic City bathers peering a century into the future. "Hotel Traymore and Brady's Baths." At left, the domed Marlborough-Blenheim hotel. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Wish you were herealong with the other 49,000 other bathers. "Hey Internet""Get a load of us!" Getting my feet wetLet me be the first to observe that there seems to be more overweight people in this pic than usual for this period. Hotel Traymore Implosion, 1972 Tan lines?It may be an artifact of the B/W image, but people in these beach scenes do not look nearly as tanned/leathery as their NJ contemporaries. Trying on his sweetie's hat?Over there on the far right of the picture, 2nd man in at the lower right corner, a man with a mustache smiles congenially at the camera, holding the arm of his girl. He's holding his hat strings in his other hand, grinning at us, and seems to be saying "Do you like my bonnet? Is it very fetching?" -- She seems to be calling to someone else, getting them to get a load of him. Refreshing lively spirit here! Now THIS one...I just don't trust! Thumbs UpI like the Jerry Colonna-ish fellow near the center front. He's giving the thumbs up sign, which I don't remember seeing before in Shorpy's hundred year old (+or-) pictures. He's having a great time. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Swimming)
Hotel Chalfonte: 1907
... Jersey Shore circa 1907. "Hotel Chalfonte and Boardwalk, Atlantic City." The 10-story Chalfonte was A.C.'s first "skyscraper" resort. View full ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 2:41pm -

The Jersey Shore circa 1907. "Hotel Chalfonte and Boardwalk, Atlantic City." The 10-story Chalfonte was A.C.'s first "skyscraper" resort. View full size. This settingWould have driven the anarchists of the day into a violent frenzy! An MTV ProductionOn "Jersey Shore: The Black & White Edition," no one can see your orange skin. Ah, to be a millinerNot a single bare head to be seen. Mystery SolvedSo that's where all of the dignity went. Young NuckyIs that him walking by the carriages next to the Saratoga Excelsior? Take a walk on the BoardwalkHave you ever seen so many Monopoly men in one place? "I'd like to build a hotel, please." And on the rightis Haddon Hall, where my family used to vacation back about 60 years ago. Reverse ViewReverse view from Haddon Hall: Steeplechase Pier: 1905. Grand Hotel Isn't that a beautiful place? Just grand! (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC)
« first‹ prev…3 [4]5…next ›last »
Syndicate content  Shorpy.com is a vintage photography site featuring thousands of high-definition images. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago. Contact us | Privacy policy | Accessibility Statement | Site © 2024 Shorpy Inc.